Headaches And Chiropractic Care in Grimsby
Here’s How We Can Help!
If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of 10 Canadians suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.
Research shows that spinal manipulation – one of the primary treatments provided by Grimsby chiropractors – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.
Headache Triggers
Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems. The remaining 95 percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease; the headache itself is the primary concern.
The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck. Today, Canadians engage in more sedentary activities than in the past, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture (such as sitting in front of a computer). This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.
What Can You Do?
The Canadian Chiropractic Association recommends the following treatment options to prevent headaches:
·Manual therapy
·Soft tissue therapy
·Modalities including electrical stimulation, acupuncture, and ultrasound
·Rehabilitation
·Lifestyle changes and education
·Referral and co-management
If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.
Do you suffer from headaches? Would you like to make an appointment with one of our West Niagara chiropractors? From Active Release Techniques and Pediatric Care, to Sports Injuries and Kinesio Taping, we will customize a treatment plan specific to your health care needs. Call us today at 905-945-3730 to make an appointment with one of our chiropractic specialists at our conveniently located office at 17 Ontario St. in Grimsby, Ontario.
